McCarthy falls ill ahead of Oscars

MELISSA MCCARTHY is battling illness just days before her big night at the Academy Awards on Sunday (26Feb12).

Published 24th February 2012

The Bridesmaids star is nominated for the Best Supporting Actress prize for her role in the hit comedy, but she has fallen sick this week (beg20Feb12), sparking fears she will not be well enough to attend the glitzy ceremony.

McCarthy was due to attend an Irish film event in Santa Monica, California on Thursday night (23Feb12) but she pulled out to due ill health and host JJ Abrams collected an award on her behalf.

A statement from organisers, reads, "While it is hard to imagine Melissa McCarthy without a voice, she lost hers and doctors ordered her to bed. So host JJ Abrams accepted on her behalf saying he appreciated her brilliance and he could only imagine how funny her speech would have been."

Earlier this month (Feb12), McCarthy missed a chance to pick up an award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival after she was struck down with laryngitis.